Improvement in wagons



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IMPROVEMENT IN WAGONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,004, dated July 1l,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB SKEEN, of Mound City, in the county of Pulaskiand in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vagons; and do hereby declare that the following is afull7 clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in whichdrawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of the wagon from above. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is asimilar elevation of thedetachable hanging body of the same; Fig. 4, a broken verticalcross-section on line .fr x of Fig. 25 Fig. 5, a side elevation of thetruck-box and a portion of its frame; Fig. 6, a vertical cross-sectionof the same on line y y of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a side elevation, showing thepawl in locked position, also in dotted lines as unlocked 5 Fig. 8, avertical broken cross-section on the line z z of Fig. 1; Fig. 9, an endelevation of one of the railyokes with the connecting-bar broken olf;Fig. 10, a horizontal sectionV on the line f 1l of Fig. 9 5 and Fig.l1,a side'elevation of one of the brakes.

Like letters of like kinds denote corresponding parts in each ligure. 4l

The object of my invention is the construction of a strong, cheap, anddurable wagon, for the conveyance of cannon, stone, timber, or otherheavy burdens, which may be loaded or unloaded by the driver withoutassistance from other men; and my invention consists in the constructionand arrangement of the cross bearing-plate to the front of the wagon 5the combination of the said plate with the side rails; in providing theside rails with a groove, in which the hind wheels traverse; in theconstruction and arrangement of the spindles to the hind wheels; in theconstruction of the trussed frame in which the hind wheels rotate; inthe construction and arrangement of the box-frames in which the siderails traverse; in the combination of such boxframes with the yokes 5 inthe combination and arrangement of the trucks, truck-boxes, and theirframes; in the combination of the truck-boxes, their frames, and theconnecting-shafts; in the combination of such trucks,truck-boxes,frames, and shafts with the hoisting-gear; in the framesemployed for supporting the rear shaft; in the construction of thebrake; in the construction and arrangementof the pawl; in theconstruction and arrangement of the rear winch-frame 5 in thecombination of the two Winches and the means for operating the same bychains or cords; in the construction and arrangement ofthe hanging body;and in the combination of the hanging body and the Winches; all as morefully hereinafter described, explained, and set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the wagon, as a whole, supported onordinary forward wheels and turning upon a fifth-wheel, which has beendescribed in a patent already granted to me, the upper portion of thefifth-wheel having a cavity, a. B represents the front crossbearing-plate, cast in one piece of suitable metal, having ribs b on itsunder surface, and with its ends c turned up and their upper portionsfurnished with a rectangular cavity, d, extending nearly to theirfronts. Upon the center of the bottom is a boss, e, corresponding inshape and size, so as to fit into the cavity a ofthe ifth-wheel. Intothe cavities d in the cross bearing-plate B, the front ends j' of theside rails C, suitably tenoned, are fitted and secured, so that theexterior surfaces of said ends of the side rails correspond with theoutsides of the ends c of said plate. The side rails are made ofsuitable Wood, preferably of the form shown in Fig. 2,with their rearends f1 cut away where they traverse in the box-frames, hereinafterdescribed. On one side of the front end j' is secured a box, f2,provided with two pulley-Wheels, f3. rlhe rear ends f1 of the side railsare provided upon their under sides with a groove, f4, for the receptionof a portion of the tops of the hind wheels, as shown in dotted lines inFig.2, which groove extends nearly the Whole length of the part of therail called f1, and rises vertically onehalf or two-thirds of the depthof said part of the rail, and the top of said part f1 is strengthened bya metallic plate, f5, provided with suitable pin-holes f5. Thebox-frames D, in which the side rails traverse back and forth, arecomposed of several pieces, each cast of suitable metal, constructed andconnected together, as is now described. rlhe outside side frame E,ofthe form shown in Fig. 2, is rectangular, with a truss, g, upon itslower side provided with a journalbox, g2, having channels g3 upon itsouter and inner edges, and a suitable opening, g4, for the purpose ofoiling the spindles, and the ends of said frame are provided withrectangular tenons g5. The inside frames E are constructed in allrespects like the outside ones E, except that its tenons are providedwith wings gG above and below, turned over at right angles, and touchingthe tenons g5, so as to separate the frames E and E a sufficientdistance for the passage of the side rail between them. The yokes F areof a length sufficient to keep the side rails asunder the properdistance, and have rectangular open ends 7L, one of which is shown inFig. 9, the opening in which ends just fits over the tenons g5 and wings gG before named, and the thickness horizontally of such ends beingprecisely the length of said tenons and win gs. Then the parts arefitted together, the outer lines of all agree, and the whole boxframe Dhas a neat finish. Theseseveral parts, when in position, are secured inplace by screws or other proper means. The hind wheels G are providedwith spindles H, which taper a little in their centers, and are driveninto the hub of the wheel from one side, and there secured, so that theyturn with the wheel. The spindle is provided at either end with arectangular groove, h1, having outer shoulders h2 and inner shouldersh3, of a size and form to t to and turn in the channels g3 in thejournal-boxes g2. These spindles are held in place by boxes N l, madewith grooves corresponding' to those in the journalbox g2, and securedto said boxes g2 by suitable means. Upon the tops of-the box-frames D,and covering the tops ofthe side frames E and E', is placed the woodenwasher l, having a tongue, fi, drawn in dotted lines in Fig. 2,lnojectingl down between said frames. Upon this washer is placed in turna metallic cover-in g-plate, J, covering the washer before named, andextending with a uniform width over the tops of the ends h of the yokesF. The drawing exhibits a separate frame, K, secured upon the top of theplate J, which frame I prefer in a working wagon to cast with saidcovering-plate in one piece. rlhis frame is provided with a centralstandard, j, with end standards J1, and with a cylindrical lug, J 2,upon which the pawl L is pivoted upon its center, with au upper bitingend, 7s, and a lower end, h1, so weighted that the head of the pawl, onbe.- in g moved forward of the vertical line of its bearing, falls byits own weight into engagement, and on being moved back of such verticalline falls away from and remains without engagement. One of these pawlsis pivoted to each of the frames K upon the outer side thereof, and engages with a ratchet-wheel, M, secured to a shaft, N, which is journaledin the frames K and extends across the wa gon, proj cctin g a littleover its sides next and outside of said frames. Next out-side of saidratchet-wheel, upon one end of the shaft, is secured a lever, O, whichhas been described in former Letters Patent granted to me. Upon the sameend of the shaft, but inside the frame K and close to it, is placed thebrake P, which is composed of a wheel, l, secured to said shaft, with agroove in its periphery, around which wheel and fitting in said grooveis placed the chain l', which is composed of alternate double links mand single links n of sheet metal, the single links being placed betweenand pivoted to the double links, and all of them embracing said wheelwithin said groove with their edges. The lever 0 is provided with alower extension, o', which is pivoted upon the inner end of the lug jl,and has pivoted to it one end of the chain l', while the other end ofsaid chain is pivoted to the upper corner of said lever. At the oppositeend of the shaftN a ratchet-wheel and pawl are arranged, similar in allpoints of construction, location, and operation, with those justdescribed and shown by L and M. Upon the same end of the shaft issecured the wheel Q, which is provided with a deep channel, p, upon itsperiphery, and is operated by a cord, R, passing around it, andextending forward over the pulley-wheel f3. The shaft N is also providedwith a chain or chains, p', whose ends are secured to said shaft in anyconvenient manner. Secured upon the top of the front end of the siderails O is the truck-box frame S, composed of two pieces of cast metal,the lower piece having a bottom, q, provided with acentral longitudinalrib-track, g1, and end standards gf", over which are tted and properlysecured the top pieces g3, provided with a groove, g4, upon its underside, extending nearly its entire length. A truck-box, T, is composed oftwo parts, each cast of proper metal, the lower part r having a cavity,T1, which occupies nearly its whole dimension, with its mouth downward,and upon its top journal-boxes r2 provided with grooves r3, and theupper part s having corresponding journal-boxes s1 and grooves s2. Thelower part of this truck-box contains a pair of trucks, U, upon the samelongitudinal line, which turns upon shafts secured in the sides of saidbox, and which has its edges provided with channels t, to correspondwith the rib-track q1 upon which it traverses. rlhe upper part of saidbox fits into and traverses in the groove q* in the top piece q, justdescribed. lA sliaft,V, passes across the wagon, with ends projectingover the sides thereof, an d is j ournalcd in the boxes r2 and s1 in thetruck-boxes, and has upon it iianges u which turn in and fit to thegrooves r3 and s2. At the corresponding end of the shaft, where the sameparts are placed upon the shaft N, are placed brakes and levers,corresponding in all respects to those upon said shaft N. At theopposite end of the shaft V is placed a wheel, u1, corresponding in allrespects with the wheel Q, before de-4 scribed, and provided with acorresponding cord, u2, which extends forward and passes over one of thepulley-wheelsf3. Upon this shaft V and between the wheel a and thetruck-box, is secured a pinion, W, which meshes with a gear-wheel, X,upon the outer end of a shaft, Y, which is constructed like the shaft V,and extends across the wagon, and is journa-led in the truck-boxes inthe manner described with regard to said shaft V. A chain or chains, fv,is secured to this shaft, also, in :ny proper manner. A body, Y', shownAparticularly in Fig. 3, has its rear end, when in use, suspended underthe wagon, by means of the chains p', and by means of chains w attachedto the sides of said body, while the front end, which is curved up andforward, rests upon the top of the cross bearing-plate B, having at itsfront under edge a stop, w1, which, passing Over the front edge of saidbearing-plate, prevents said body, when nearly upon alevel, from slidingbackward, but when the rear end of said body is lowered, the stop israised upon said edge of the bearing, and the body may slide over saidbearing. This front end is also provided with suitable chains wz, whichmay be attached to the chains on the shaft Y, for the purpose of raisingsuch front end. Suitable pins w3, passing down through the side rails C,keep them in the desired position, and other pins, @04, passing downthrough the upper part of the winch-box frame, hold said winch-box inthe position required.

In operation the uses and advantages of the several parts are asfollows, viz.: Vhen the body Y is used it may be left upon the ground insuch a position that the wagon can be conveniently backed over it. Inthis position it may be readily loaded with the stone, iron, or otherheavy material to be carried. The wagon is then backed over it, thechains of the body attached to the chains on the forward and rearwardshafts,

the body raised by hand by means of the levers connected with saidshafts, or by attaching a portion of the team to the cords operating thepowerwheels attached to said shafts, until the body is raised to asufficient height. By removing the stay-pins to the truck-box frame, itwill slide forward upon its trucks by the weight and the draft of thechains; or this may be done by iirst raising the forward end of the bodyand backing the wagon. The forward end of the body may then be loweredupon the cross bearing-plate by raising the proper pawl, and thelowering be regulated by the proper brake. The forward end of the bodywill then be supported upon said cross bearing-plate, and retained inplace there by means of the stop upon its front under edge, and the rearof said body will remain suspended by its proper chains. In unloading,the rear end of the body is lowered so as to disengage the stop beforespoken of, the stay-pins to the truck-box frame removed, and thetruck-box will slide to the rear and off the cross bearing-plate, whenthe whole body may be lowered to the ground, and the wagon removed outof the way. In the carriage of long and heavy cannon, columns of stone,and other long and heavy burdens, where the body is not used, the mannerof loading and unloading will be substantially the same as that alreadydescribed. When it is essential to shorten the distance between the foreand hind Wheels it is done conveniently by removing the proper stay-pinsand backing the team, and, to lengthen said distance, to remove saidpins again and start up the team, in each instance rst trigging the hindwheels.

The advantages of the several parts of my wagon, described as novel, areas follows, viz.: The cross bearing-plate, as constructed, gives a iirmlateral support to the lframe of the wagon, in connection with theshafts, which turn in the truc i-boXes.; a convenient and strong supportto the forward ends of the side rails 5 and a firm bearing upon theiifth-wheel, by means of the boss, which lits into the upper cavity ofsaid fifth-wheel. By means of the groove in the side rails, said railsare placed immediately over the rims of the hind wheels, whereby saidwheels may be used of large size and of easier traction, at the sametime that the strength of said side rails is not materially lessened. Bymeans of the construction of the spindles to the hind wheels, suchwheels may be used without a connecting axle, and the wheels themselvesstrongly supported in a vertical position, without danger of binding orcramping. In the truss-frame carrying the boxes for the wheel-spindlesjust spoken of are combined strength with lightness.

By means of the construction, combination, and connection of thebox-frames for the side pieces and the yokes, a very strong yet lightmethod is employed for preserving sufficient lateral and verticalstrength to the rear part of the wagon, so that the support of an axleand the usual cross-bars are not needed.

The truck-boxes and their frames, as employed, and the hoistingapparatus, have the merits of simplicity, cheapness, convenience, andgreat lifting power. The advantages of the brakes and pawls are apparentupon the most casual inspection. The advantages of the whole wagonconsist principally in its cheapness and strength, arising from thelarge employment of cast metal; in its simplicity of parts, each servinga useful purpose; and in its convenience in use.

Having thus described the construction of my wagon, the manner of itsuse, and some of the special advantages of its operative parts, what Iclaim as new therein isl. The cross bearing-plate B, constructedsubstantially as described and shown.

2. The combination of the cross bearing-plate B and the side rails (l,constructed and secured together, substantially as described and shown.

3. The side rails G, provided with the groove f4, in combination withthe hind wheels Gr, constructed and arranged substantially as describedand shown.

4. The combination of the wheels G, the spindles H, and thejournal-boxes g2, all constructed and arranged substantially as and forthe purpose described and shown.

5. The combination of the wheels G, the spindles H, and the trusses g,constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose describedand shown.

6. The combination of the side frames E and E, constructed and arrangedsubstantially as described and shown.

7. The combination of the side frames E a-nd E', with. the yokes F, allconstructed, arranged, and connected substantially as described andshown.

8. The combination of the trucks U, the truckboXes T, and their framesS, all constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

9. The combination of 'the trucks U, the truckboXes T, the frames S, andshafts V and Y, all constructed and arranged substantially as describedand shown.

l0. The combination of the trucks U, the truckboxes T, the frames S,the'shafts V and Y, and the wheel u, the pinion NV, and the gear-wheel14. The combination of the shaft N, the WheelV Q, the cord R, the brakeI), the ratchet-Wheel M, the paWl Il, and the lever O, all constructed,arranged, and operated substantially as described and shown.

15. rEhe combination of the forward and rear Winches in one Wagon, eachwinch being constructed, and both arranged and operating as describedand shown.

16. The body Y', constructed, arranged, and operated substantially asdescribed and shown.

17. The combination of the body Y', the shafts N, Y, and V, and theiroperative devices, all constructed and arranged substantially asdescribed and shown.

18. The wagon A, as a Whole device, With its several parts constructed,arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this31st day of May, 1871.

JACOB SKEEN.

Vitnesses:

G-Eo. S. PRINDLE, EDM. F. BROWN.

